Fonterra’s domestic milk products boss resigns effective immediately
However, it came less than two weeks after Fonterra announced that a single raw ingredient it produces — a concentrated whey product — could contain bacteria linked to botulism.
The huge co-operative has an annual turnover of almost NZ$20bn and has customers in over 100 countries.
Fonterra, which employs over 17,000 people world- wide and is owned by almost 11,000 New Zealand dairy farmers, said on Aug 3 it had discovered the contamination in some of its products.
These were shipped to customers in nine countries, and used to make infant formula, sports drinks and animal feed.
Potentially tainted products were taken off shelves in China, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Other countries also took measures to restrict imports.
Fonterra, the biggest company in New Zealand, where it is responsible for almost 90% of the country’s milk production, has said the contamination was caused by a dirty pipe at one of its plants.
Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said food safety is their number-one priority and they will always act with this in mind.
“I understand the anxiety this issue has caused and I apologise for this, particularly to mums and dads around the world.
“All parents and consumers have the right to know that their products are safe,” he said.
The company, which collects and processes 22 billion litres of milk annually, said there have been no known illnesses caused by the tainted products, which have been recalled.
Four enquiries — two by Fonterra, one by New Zealand’s government and another by the food safety authority — are underway or planned. They will look into the cause and handling of the contamination scare and the potential international fallout for dairy dependent New Zealand.
